This year, lots of people will embark on their dream of keeping chickens. But when starting out, most people discover there are lots of different coops to choose from. Many new chicken keepers err on the side of caution and unwittingly choose something ‘cheap and cheerful’. Here’s 8 reasons why you might want to rethink that plan:
1. Deforestation
Chicken coops imported from Asia don’t use FSC timber, so the trees used to manufacture them aren’t replaced. This causes deforestation, habitat loss, and an increased risk of landslides and flooding - not to mention the loss of CO2 conversion.
2. Not Solid Wood
Cheap wooden coops are often made from thin, poorly laminated wood that de-laminates in a cold, wet climate. The panels ‘blow’ in the wind which wrecks the structural integrity of the coops, meaning they quickly fall apart.
3. Flimsy & Rusty
Steel pull-out trays seem great in principle but are made of flimsy material which is prone to warping and rusting. In the end, this makes removing the trays impossible, defeating their entire purpose.
4. Tiny Run
The run included with wooden coops is often far too small to be used on an ongoing basis - although they are rarely advertised as such. New keepers often don’t know any better and end up with stressed, sick chickens; a world away from the environment they deserve.
5. High Carbon Footprint
Cheap wooden coops are transported from the other side of the world, which adds to their environmental impact. As most of these coops only last around 2-3 years, you’ll be buying 3-4 replacements over 10 years. That’s a lot of cost, a lot of trees and a lot of fuel to get them here too.
6. Poor Wind Stability
Wooden coops weigh a fraction of what better quality timber or plastic coops weigh and are known for blowing over in strong winds as a result. This is extremely dangerous for your birds for obvious reasons.
7. Not Predator-Proof
The thin wood, lightweight wire, poor-quality fixings and overall build quality make it very easy for large predators to push over the coop, chew through the sides or pull the door off and gain access. Rodents can also easily burrow underneath. Nestera chicken coops are made from tough and durable recycled plastic and the run we offer for our Large Raised Coop is supplied with an anti-burrow skirt for extra protection from predators.
7. A Red Mite Hotel
Every spot on the coop where two pieces of timber join or meet is the perfect environment for red mite to hide. Red mite are incredibly small, multiply prolifically, are incredibly evasive and can only be killed with steam or chemicals. The felt roof of a wooden chicken coop is a favourite hideout for red mite, too. Most chicken owners end up burning their coops after spending a fortune trying to unsuccessfully eradicate them.
Every Nestera chicken coop is made from durable, 100% recycled plastic waste here in the UK and each comes with an industry-beating 25-year warranty. At the first sign of a red mite issue, simply and easily disassemble your Nestera coop and wipe or hose it down with hot soapy water before reassembling. Just pour the waste water and any surviving mites down your nearest drain. Over the course of a Nestera coop’s lifetime, you’ll save an absolute fortune compared to a wooden coop!
From low maintenance, easy access and disassembling, to care and durability, our range of recycled plastic coops offer a huge range of advantages over wooden coops that can’t be eggnored! Explore our range of recycled plastic chicken coops here.
